Carton closing machine



March 8, 1960 w. HAYES ETAL CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1955 D M .w m i Q i INVENTORS DUDLEY w. HAYES LEONARD E. ABBOTT BY M144 /\W' ATTORNE March 8, 1960 D. w. HAYES ET AL 2,927,412

CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS DUDLEY w. HAYES LEONARD E. ABBOTT ATTORNEY COM March 8, 1960 w, HAYES ETAL CARTON CLOSING'MACHINE Filed March 7, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS DUDLEY W. HAYES LEONARD E. ABBOTT ATTORNEY March 8,1960 D. w. HAYES 2,927,412

CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Filed March 1'7, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 TII3 .1

O J V INVENTORS DU DLEY W. HAYES LEONARD E. ABBOTT ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 D. w. HAYES ETAL 2,927,412

CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 E'IE; 5

INVENTORS DUDLEY W. HAYES LEONARD E. ABBOTT ATTORNEY March a, 1960 D. w. HAYES ETAL 2,927,412

CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 17, 1955 H m-HRHI am.

INVENTORS DUDLEY W. HAYES LEONARD E. ABBOTT ummiwlF QMN) 3mm ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 D. w. HAYES ETAL CARTON CLOSING MACHINE mfl me 0 s n 7 l um m a 0 N On. MM m m 1 N N9 ww a w @NN mm m0. 2. @N w m a o: o u T $0. 9 0 m; aw m 3.. 00. Q0 0e W 0. fi e 00 cm. 6. E g. m M Q Filed March 17, 1955 ATTORNEY 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 #UM MHLMF Filed March 17, 1955 q Yum b mme OWN m WE W m m w m v B omm m0 0 \\)-..N. we v ow ome 8a 2. www .WNQ

QNQ h mom amm March 8, 1960 D. w. HAYES EI'AL CARTON CLOSING momma 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 1'7, 1955 DUDLEY w. HAYES LEONARD E. ABBOTT A'I'TORNEY IW-HIWHHI CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Application March 17, 1955, Serial No..494,872

20 Claims. (Cl. 53-376) This invention relates to carton handling apparatus and more particularly to machines for closing paper cartons.

It is common practice to market frozen vegetables in cartons which, for reasons of economy and convenience, are of standard shape and size. It is desirable, of course, that each carton be asnearly filled as circumstances permit, thus leaving a minimum of voids. Even distribution of the commodity throughout the confines of the carton is, therefore, an important requirement, of commercial packing of.vegetables in preparation for freezing. This requirement is easily complied with in the case of small, uniformly shaped vegetables such as peas and beans, but the packing of such bulky winter vegetables as broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts is complicated by their large sizes and awkward shapes, even when broken or cut into small pieces. These vegetables are usually packed by hand; and an operator frequently fails to distribute the pieces uniformly throughout a carton. As a consequence, the contents of many of the cartons are piled in the central portions thereof to a depth exceeding the vertical dimension of the cartons while the cartons are less than full in the regions adjacent the walls, particularly at the corners. This makes it difficult to close the covers of the cartons and is apt to cause a cover when closed either by hand or by the usual type of carton closing machine, to be distorted, thus making the filled and closed cartons diflicult to wrap and to handle in distribution.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved carton closing machine.

It is another object to provide a carton closing machine particularly adapted for closing paper cartons filled with articles of a bulky nature and of various shapes.

Another object is to provide in a cartonclosing machine, a cover closing member in the form of a flat plate adapted to engage a suflicient extent of the area of the cover of a carton to assure retention of the cover in a flat condition as the same is swung to its closed position against the resistance of contents of the carton piled therein to an excessive depth, and to press the commodity into a more evenly distributed condition in the carton.

Another object is to provide means offering lateral support to the walls of the carton which are apt to be subjected to excessive internal pressure as the contents of the carton are compressed by the cover in closing.

Another object is to provide a carton closing machine having means for opening the slits of a carton having locking tabs insertable into slits in the carton walls to secure the cover in closed position, which slit opening means is adapted to establish such engagement within at least one of the slits as to assist in anchoring the carton securely in a desired position in the closing machine.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for folding a carton along certain previously scored fold nited States Patent .the arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

the arrow 4 of Fig. 2.

2,927,412 Patented Mar. 8, l9ti0 lines to pre-bre'ak or crease the material .of whichthe carton is made, as a step preliminary to final closing of the cover.

'Another object is to provide a machine adapted to .receivez'a continuous, rapidly advancing procession of filled cartons with their covers in open, erect position and to automatically perform on each carton the operations of (1) preliminarily folding the cover to pre-break the material of which the carton is formed along a fold line between the cover and the body of the carton and to press unevenly'piled contents of the carton to a more evenly distributed condition, (2) pre-breaking the carton material along the fold line between the cover and the flap extension carrying the front locking tab, (3) ."positively raising the cover until the locking tabs clear the slits in the carton walls, and (4) pressing the cover closed and, simultaneously therewith, effecting insertion of the locking tabs into the slits of the carton walls. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawings, in which: Figure l is a perspective of the carton folding machine of the invention.

Figure 2. is a. plan of the, machine of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation viewed in the directionyof Figure 4 is an elevation viewed in the direction of Figure 5 is a vertical section partly broken away, taken along the lines 55 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Figure 6 is a section taken along the lines 66, of Fig. 2, showing the mechanism for preliminarily closing the carton covers and pre-breaking the material of the cartons along certain fold lines of the same.

Figure 7 is a perspective of the mechanism of Fig. 6, showing a carton in an early stage of the operation of preliminarily closing its cover.

Figure 8 is a perspective similar to Fig. 7, showing the carton in a more advanced position.

Figure 9 is avperspective similar to Figs. 7 and 8 showing thecarton in, a still further advanced position.

Figure 10 is a plan of the rotary head which aids in retaining a carton in rectangular form while the material of the carton is pre-broken along the hinge line of the flap at the front of the cover.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation of the rotary head of Fig. 10, taken along the lines 11-1l. of that figure.

Figure 12 is a section taken along the lines 12-12 of Fig. 2.

Figure 13 is a perspective of a typical carton of the type upon which the closing machine of invention is designed to operate.

Figures 14, 15 and 16 are detail views, partly broken away, taken in radial section of the rotary table of the carton closing machine and illustrating successive operative positions of the cover closing mechanism, the front wall slit opening mechanism, and the front locking tab insert mechanism.

I Figure 17 is a detail perspective of the front wall supportingtongues and associated locking tab guide.

Figures 18, 19 and 20 are detail views illustrating successive operative positions of the cover closing mechanism, the end flap folding and side wall slit opening mechanism, and the side tab inserting mechanism.

Figure 21 is a diagram showing the relative positions of the actuating cams of the machine of the invention.

A carton C typical of those adapted to be closed by the machine of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 13. It comprises a body 26 having a bottom 28, two opposite side walls 30, a back wall 32, and a front a .wall 34. A cover 36 is hinged to the back wall 32along a scored fold line 38, and two opposed side flaps 40 are hinged to the cover 36 along scored fold lines 42. A

front flap 44 is hinged to the cover 36 along a scored :fold line 46. .Each of the side flaps 40 is provided with a locking tab 43 receivable within a J-shaped slit 50 in theassociated side wall 30 when the cover 36 is closed, and the front flap 44 is provided with a locking tab .52 receivable within a slit 54 in the front wall 34 when the cover 36 is closed. Each of the side wall slits 50 definesa tongue 56 severed from the associated. side wall 30 throughout the entire periphery of the tongue 56 except at that end thereof which is nearer the back wall 32 of the carton, and the tongue 56 may readily be flexed inward to open the slit 50 for the reception of the associated tab 48. For a similar purpose, the slit 54 'in the front wall 34 is of substantially U-shaped configuration, .having two spaced, upwardly extending branch slits 58 and thus defining .a tongue 60, the lower end of which can readily be flexed inwardly to open the slit 54 to facilitate insertion of the tab 52. The horizontal slit 54 is ex- 1 tended laterally beyond both vertical slits 58 so that its material at the fold line 33 along which the cover 36 is hinged to the body 26. While the cover 36 is temporarily retained in nearly closed position, the front flap 44 is engaged by a flap deflector 68 to crease the carton material at the fold line 46 along which the front flap 44 is hinged to the cover 36. Substantially simultaneously therewith, a rotary head 70 frictionally engages the up per surface of the cover 36 to counteract the tendency of the flap deflector 68 to distort the carton from rectangular configuration.

As the carton C moves beyond the rotary head 70, its cover 36 is raised far enough for the ends of the locking tabs 43 and 52 to clear the slits 50 and 54. The carton C then enters the final closing station P where without interrupting advance of the carton, a cover closing plate 72 descends onto the cover36 into an oblique position to dispose one edge of the plate adjacent the hinge line 38 of the cover. The opposite edge of the plate is then lowered, swinging the plate 72 downward about an axis adjacent the hinge line 38 of the cover and thereby applying closing pressure to the cover throughout a substantial area of the same. Closing the cover in this manner resists any tendency for the cover to be distorted from fiat configuration by contents of the carton piled to a depth greater than the vertical dimension of the carton. While the cover is still in a sufficiently elevated position for the locking tabs 48 and 52 to clear the slits 50 and 54, the lower ends of side tab guides 74 and a front tab guide 76 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) are inserted into the slits 50 and 54', respectively, thus opening the slits and positioning the guides in the paths of the descending locking tabs 48' and 52 so that the tabs are guided thereby into the slits as the cover approaches its closed position. The plate '72 and guides 74 then retract, releasing the closed carton, which is then delivered onto a discharge chute 78 (Figs. 2 and 4) by which the closed cartons are conveyed to any desired p'ointof delivery.

The conveyor 66 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12) whereby cartons C to'be closed are supplied to the closing machine of the invention, is arranged tangentially with respect to a'generally circular horizontal casting 80 (Figs. 1, 3,:4and that constitutes the principal frame mem- .ber of .the closing machine .and which is supported in .fixed position on a suitable pedestal 81 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) ass- 112 by .a .setscrew .82 ina sleeve portion 80:! of the casting (Figs. 1-5) having horizontal flanges 86 and 86a (Figs.

. 6 and 12) which support opposed, angle section guide members 88 and 88a at a suitable elevation above the plane of the frame member 870. The horizontal flanges 99 and 90a are spaced apart to define a longitudinally extending slot 92 therebetween. Vertical flanges 94 and 94a of the guide members 88 and Site are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length, i.e., the front to back dimension of .a carton C. The horizontal flanges 9t) thus cooperate to form a guideway 96 for the cartons C, which are supplied tothe same in a continuous procession from any suitable source of supply, such as an automatic carton filling machine, or a station where the cartons are hand filled (not shown). Each filled carton is disposed on the guideway 96 with its back wall 32 facing the outer vertical flange 94, and with its cover 36 extending substantially vertically upward from the back wall 32, and with the flanges 40 and 44 substantially in planar alignment with the cover.

The conveyor 66 includes a carton-advancingchain 102 (Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 12) which is trained around spaced sprockets 104 (Fig. 5) and 106 (Figs. 6 and 12) rigidly mounted on shafts 108 and 110, respectively, journalled at opposite ends' of the conveyor frame 84. Spaced flights 112 carried by the chain 102 are adapted to extend upward through the slot 92 into position to .engageand advance cartons C along theconveyor. The conveyor 66 is driven by a sprocket 114 (Fig. '5) rigid with the shaft 163 and connected by a chain 116 with a driving sprocket 11.8 on amain drive shaft 120 (Figs. 5 and 12) that is rotatably mounted in bearings 122 and 122:: of an auxiliary frame 124 and carries at its outboard end a bevel gear 126 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The gear 126 meshes with a driving pinion 128 carried by a drive shaft 130 that is journalled in bearings 132 and 132a mounted on the auxiliary frame 124, and which is adapted to be rotated at suitable speed from anysuitable power source.

The preliminary folding station P (Figs. 1-4, 6-9 and l2) is arranged in cooperative association with the guideway 96 and comprises a camming rod 136 sloping downwardly, inwardly and 'forwardly'with respect to the direction of carton advance. The carnming rod '136 issupported at a point intermediate its ends by a bracket 138 adjustably mounted on the conveyor frame 84 in order to hold the end 146 of the camming rod 136 in selected vertical adjustment. Similarly,-vertically adjustable sup port is provided for the other end 147 of the carnming rod 136 by a tubular guide 143 mounted in verticalposition at the outer end-of an arm 150 which-is arranged to extend radially from the upper surface of a camming plate 152 that is rigidly mounted on the upper end of the pedestal til-and whichwill be described hereinafter. A rod 156 welded to thecamming rod136extends slidably through the-tubular guide 148 wherein it is held by a set screw 158.

The parts offolding stationP should be so arranged that the end 146 of the camming rod 136 is disposed above the outer guide flange 94 of theconveyor 66 and approximately at the elevation of the upper edge of the cover 36 0f a carton-C approaching on the conveyor 66 with its cover 36 substantially erect. From this position, the camming rod 136 slopes downwardly, forwardly and inwardly to a position above thecenter of the guideway 96 at an elevation only slightlyhigher than the cover 36 of a carton whose cover is closed, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Because of this arrangementof the camming rod 136, the covers 36 of the cartons C advancing on the conveyor 66 are .engaged by the camming rod 136 and folded downwardly toward their closed position in a preliminary folding operation wherein the material of which the carton is made is creased, or preabroken at .-the foldlinees alongwhich ;thei cover..is. hinae t th o y of he c non- Theflap deflector 68 is mounted in position to been gaged by the flap 44 which extends from the front edge of the cover 36, shortly before the cover 36 completes movement toward closed position as the result of its engagement with the camming rod 136. The deflector 68 (Figs. 1-4, 6-9 and 12) comprises a disc 168 rotatably mounted on a horizontal spindle 170 secured to the upper end of a bracket 172 the lower end of which is provided with an elongated slot 174 through which extends a bolt 176. The bolt 176 extendsthrough a spacing tube 178 and through the inner wall of the conveyor frame 84 where the bolt 176 is threadedly engaged with a nut 1813 (Figs. 6 and 12) which when tightened, rigidly aflixes the bracket 172 to the conveyor frame 84 in selected position of vertical and rotational adjustment. This mounting of the flap deflector 68 permits its being adjusted to its most effective position in deflecting downward the front flap 44 of each carton about the upper edge of the front wall 34 of the carton and thus prebreaking the material of the carton along the fold line 46 where the flap 44 is hinged to the cover 36. I

The edge of the disc 168 is rounded (Figs. 6-9 and 12) and the face of the disc 168 is substantially in the plane of the inner surface of the flange 94a of guideway 96 and at such an elevation that the extended flap 44 encounters the edge of the disc at approximately the 4 oclock point thereof, as viewed in Figure 4. 1 At this location the rounded edge surface of the disc presented to the leading end of the flap 44, inclines in such a direction that the advancing flap is deflected downwardly by the disc 168. i p The disc 168 is free to rotate upon its spindle 170, and since the advancing flap 44 engages the disc at a point well below a horizontal plane through the axis of rotation of the disc, the disc is caused to rotate in that direction in which the portion of the flange engaged by the'flap moves downwardly, carrying with it the flap and thereby assisting in folding the flap 44 downwardly. The disc 168 is of such size that its lower portion extends below the horizontal plane occupied by the cover 36 when closed. Accordingly, after the flap 44 has been deflected downwardly the fiat portion of the disc 168 .bears against the outer surface of the flap, holding it sharply bent about its hinge line 46, to crease or prebreak the material of the carton therealong.

, The deflector 68, whenengaged by a flap 44, imposes a force against the flap in the direction opposite the direction ofcarton advance. distal edge of the cover, constitutes a torque tending to rotate the cover in its own plane and, consequently, to

This force applied to the distort the body of the carton. It is for the purpose of imposing a counter-torque upon the cover 36 of each ;carton C while the same is in engagement with the deflector 68, that the rotary head 70 is provided. The head 70 comprises a horizontal plate 186 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and- 6 12) rotated by a shaft 188 to the upper end of which the plate 186 is secured by a set screw 189 (Fig.

. 6), extending through the hub 190 of the plate 186. The

plate 186 includes two relatively wide arms 192 (Fig.

extending radially in opposite directions from the hub 198. The edge 194 of each of the arms 192 which leads during rotation-of theplate 186, is angulated to present a substantially triangular forward extension 196 adjacent the outer end of the arm. Each of the arms 192 carries .a friction plate 198 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6-12) whose relatively pointed-forward end 2288 (Figs. 10 and 11) is steeply inclined (Figs. 7 and 8), enabling it to slope downwardly from its forward extremity, past the leading edge 194 of the associated arm 192 into the body portion 202 of the friction plate 198 which slopes downwardly and rearwardly from the forward end at a lesser inclination. The forward end 200 of each friction plate 198 is welded to the associated arm 192 on the edge 194.

The inner lateral edge of the friction plate extends in a substantially straight line transversely of the arm, while the outerlateral edge-is substantially congruent with the peripheral edge of the-arm. The friction plates'198 are of suitable resilient material, and the trailing end of each friction plate 198 is adjustably retained below the trailing edge of its. supporting arm 192 by a stud 216 welded to the friction plate adjacent the trailing endof the same. The threaded upper portion ofeach stud 216 .extcnds'through a clearance hole (not shown) in the associated supporting arm .19 2, 'and carriesnuts 218 (Fig. 11) which may be tightened against the upper and lower surfaces of the arm 192 to secure the trailing end of the friction plate 198 in adjusted position below the supporting arm, and, consequently, with the body portion 202 inclined.

The parts are so proportioned and arranged that as the supporting plate 186 rotates, the two friction plates 198 curried thereby pass successively over the guideway 96 directly opposite the deflector 68, and at such elevation that the under surfaces of the friction plates 198 frictionally engage the upper surfaces of the covers 36 of the cartons C as the cartons advance along the guideway 96 with their covers pressed down substantially to closed position by the camming rod 136. The direction of rotation of the supporting plate 186 and its friction plates 198, is such that whenever a friction plate 198 is in engagernent with a carton cover 36, the friction plate'.198 moves in the same generaldirection as that in which the carton is advancing. Moreover,'the speed of rotation of the plate 186' is such that the portion of the friction plate 198 thereon which engages the cover moves at a faster rate than the carton and thereby exerts a frictional force, or drag upon the cover, in opposition to the force exerted against the flap 44 by the deflector 68. In this manner, the rotating friction plates 198 resist any tendency that the deflector may have to distort the cartons.

The shaft 188 which supports and drives the rotary head 70 is journalled in a bearing 226(Fig. 6) of the auxiliary frame 124. Within the frame 124 the shaft 188 is connected by bevel gearing 228 to a countershaft 230 rotatably supported from the frame 124 by bearings 232 and 232a and is driven from the main shaft (Figs. 5 and. 12) by sprockets 234 and 234a (Fig. 6) and a chain-236. Thus, the shaft 188 is'driven in synchronism with the conveyor 66, which, as hereinbefore explained, is likewise driven from the main shaft 120. The sprockets 234 and 2344 are appropriately designed to cause the cover 36 of each carton C to be engaged by one of the friction plates 198 which are disposed a suitabledistance from the axis of the shaft 188 to cause the friction plates to move at a speed-greater than the linear speed of the cartons on the conveyor 66. An offset flap retaining plate 240 (Figs. 2,3, 4, 5 and 12) mounted on the conveyor frame 84 is disposed in a vertical plane outwardly of the guideway 96 beyond the inner faceof the disc 16-8 of the flap deflector 68. As best shown in Fig. 4, the plate 240 extends from a position below the flap deflector 68 toward the discharge end of the conveyor 66, with the upper-corner of the plate cut away obliquely to accommodate the flap deflector 68. Consequently,'the plate 240 is in position to be engaged by the downwardly deflected front flange 44 of each carton (see FigI'S) as the carton is moved past the deflector 68 in its progress along the conveyor '66. As the flap 44 passes out of engagement with the The upper, .f r eend of the strip 246 (Figs. 3 and eans '41 is above the plane of the horizontal "flanges 90' and 90a of the guideway 96 adistance somewhat greater than the vertical dimension of a carton Cf The inclined strip 246 is spaced inwardly from the inner face of the flapreta ining plate 240 by a distance sufficient to permit the flap 44 to pass freely therebetwecn. The lower end of the strip 246 is secured to the vertical flange 94:: at a point which a carton C passes before the front flap 44 of the carton engages the deflector 68. Therefore, when the flap 44 encounters the deflector the'flap is folded down over the strip 246, with the result that after a carton leaves the deflector 68 and whilethe flap 44 slides along the inner face of the flap retaining plate 240, the under surface of the cover 36 is engaged by the upwardly inclined strip 246 as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and the cover is raised thereby from the closed position into whichit was previously moved by the camming rod 136. The lower end 147 of the camming rod 136 is slanted upwardly slightly (Figs. 3 and 4) to permit each cover 36 to be raised high enough by the strip 246 for the lower ends of the locking tabs 48 and 52 to clear the slits 50 and 54, and still to retain the cover sufliciently low to permit the carton to pass freely into the cover closing mechanism of station F about to be described.

Thefinal folding station F comprises a rotary table 250 (Figs. 1 and 5) of substantially circular form, ar-

ranged above the stationary frame member 8d and rotatably mounted (Fig. 5) by bushings 2.52 and 252a and a thrust bearing 254, on an upward extension of the pedestal 81. The thrust bearing 254 supports the table 25% upon a shoulder 258 of the pedestal to maintain the table 256 in horizontal alignment with the horizontal flanges '90 and 90a of the guideway and thereby to permit the cartons C to be slid from the guideway 96 onto the table 250.

A ring gear 262 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) is afiixed by a plurality of bolts 264 (Fig. 5) to the under surface of the rotary, table 250 coaxially thereof. A spur gear 266 (Figs. 4 and 12) meshing with the ring gear 262 is rigid with a vertical shaft 268 which is journalled in a suitable bearing 270 carried by the frame member 80. The shaft 268 is connected to the aforesaid main shaft 120 to be rotated thereby through bevel gearing 272 (Figs. 4 and 5). Since the shaft 12! constitutes the drive shaft for the conveyor chain 102 and the rotary table 250, the table and the conveyor chain are synchronized with respect to each other. The gearing 272 and the sprockets 118 and .114 are appropriately proportioned and arranged to effect rotation of the table 250 in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above, and at such a rate that one of four individual cover closing and tab inserting stations 274 (Figs. 1, 3, .4 and 5) of the table 250 is presented to the delivery end of the guideway 96 each time one of the flights 11.12 of the conveyor chain 102 pushes a carton C onto the table.

A head 280 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) is arranged above the table 250 for rotation therewith about the pedestal 81. The hub 282 (Fig. 5) of the head 280 rests upon, and is bolted to the upper end of an upward extension of the hub 296 of the rotary table 2545. The head 289 comprises four radially extending arrns292, each of which extends over one of the cover closing and tab inserting stations 274. Carried by each of the arms 292 and at diflerent radial distances from the axis thereof are two vertical bearings 294 and 296. Vertically reciprocable slide bars 298 and 300 are mounted in the bearings 294 and 296, respectively.

A horizontally extending slot 392 (Fig. 5) is formed in one side of the bearing 294 to accommodate a pin 304 which intersects the bore of the bearing 2&4 to which it is secured, and slidably engages a flat side of the slide bar 298 to hold the same against rotation about its axis and yet to permit vertical reciprocation thereof.

The slide bar 300 is square and the bore of the bearing 296' is of complementary shape, thus holding the slide bar 300 against rotation about its axis and yet permitting vertical reciprocation of the slide bar.

A follower roller 314 pivotally mounted on the innermost slide bar 298 is engaged within an inner cam groove 320 formed in the outer vertical face of an annulus 322 that is adjustably secured by bolts 323 to the under surface of the hereinbefore mentioned cam plate 152, which is rigidly mounted upon the upper end of the pedestal 31. The slide bar 300 is provided with a follower roller 316 which is engaged Within a cam groove 324 formed in the outer face of a peripheral flange of the cam plate 152.

The cam groove 324 includes an upper horizontal portion or dwell 330 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) which extendsthroughout approximately 225 degrees (see Fig. 21) of the circumference of the flange, and a lower horizontal portion or dwell 332 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5). The two dwell portions 330 and 332 of the groove 324 are interconnected by inclined portions 334 and 336, the inclination of the portion 334 being downward and forward in the direction of movement of the roller 316, and the inclination of the portion 336 being upward and forward. The cam plate 152 is so oriented that the downwardly and forwardly inclined portion 334 of the groove 324 is disposed above the discharge end of the delivery conveyor 65, whereas the upwardly and forwardly inclined portion 336 is disposed above the receiving end of the previously mentioned discharge chute 78. i

The inner carnrning groove 320 (Figs. 5 and 21) includes an upper horizontal dwell portion 346 and a short, lower horizontal dwell portion 352 interconnected by a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion 348 and an upwardly and forwardly inclined portion 350. The annulus 322 in which the groove 320 is formed is so positioned that the short, low dwell 352 of the groove 320 is opposite a portion of the low dwell 332 of the groove 324 approximately one third the length of the low dwell 332 in advance of the upwardly and forwardly inclined portion 336. To attain the optimum relationship of the low dwells 332 and 352 of grooves 324 and 320, respectively, accurate adjustment of the annulus 322 relatively to the cam plate 152 is necessary.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, each of the cover closing plates 72 is suspended from the lower end of one of the pm'rs of vertically reciprocahle slide bars 298 and 300. The outer edge of each plate 72 (Figs. 5, 1416, and 18-20) is provided with a pair of spaced bosses 360 which embrace a finger 352 extending downwardly from the lower end of the outer slide bar 300. A pin 364 extends through the bosses 360 and the finger 362 to pivotally connect the plate 72 to the lower end of the slide bar 300 adjacent the outer edge of the plate. Further, each plate 72 is secured adjacent its inner edge to the lower end of the inner slide bar 298 by a link 366 which is'connected by a pivot pin 368 to a boss 370 on the plate and to a finger 372 at the lower end of the associated inner slide bar 298 by another pin 374.

The rotary table 250 is provided with four vertical bearings ass (Figs. 5, 14 and 16) one of which is associated with each of the cover closing and tab inserting stations 274. A slide rod 382 is reciprocably mounted in each bearing 380, and extends vertically through the table 250. A cam follower roller 384 (Fig. 5) is rota-tably mounted at the lower end of each of the slide rods 382 and is engaged within a camming groove 388 defined between the upper surface of a boss 390 formed centrally on the stationary frame plate 89 and the lower surface of a horizontal peripheral flange of a plate 394. The plate 334 is mounted concentrically with the boss 390 and is secured rigidly thereto by bolts 396. The cam groove 388 includes a low dwell portion 398 (Figs. 5 I

and 2l') which extends throughout substantially 270 degrees, and a high dwell portion 400 (Figs; 1' and '21) connected at its ends to the low' portion 398hyan up-' wardly and forwardly inclined portion 402 and aidownwardly and forwardly inclined portion 404 (Fig. 21). As best shown in Fig. 21 the upwardly and forwardly inclined portion 402 whereby the rollers 384 pass from the low portion 398 to the high portion 400 is first encountered by a roller 384 when the associated roller 316 of the outer overhead slide bar 300 is approximately midway of the inclined portion 334 of the groove 324. Accordingly each rod 382 starts to rise a brief interval after the associated overhead slide bar 300 has started to move downwardly.

Each slide rod 382 carries at its upper end a crosshead 410 (Figs. 5, 14, 15 and 16), on a reduced portion of the rod. .Two racks 416 (Figs. 1, 3,4, 18, 19 and 20), one at each side of the cross-head 410, are rigidly secured thereto by bolts 418 (Fig. 16) and extend vertically upwardly therefrom with their teethengaging those of pinion gears 420. The gears 420 are carried. at the inner end of pairs of rock shafts 422. which are joumalled in bearings 424 (Fig. 1) at opposite sides of a bracket 426 (Figs. 18, 19 and 20) that extends laterally from the radial arms 292. The two rock shafts 422 carried by each arm 292 are parallel to and are spaced equal distances from the arm. A tucker-arm '428'is rigidly secured to the outer end of each rock shaft 422, the parts being so arranged that when a rod 382 rises, lifting the two racks 416 carried thereby, the two associated tuckerarms 428 are turned downward and inward. The spacing between the two rock shafts 422 is such that when the tucker-arms 428 carried thereby assume vertical positions, the horizontal distance between their adjacent faces substantially corresponds to the width of a carton C.

One side tab guide 74 which comprisesa flat strip or tongue is secured by screws 1429 to the outer face of each tucker-arm 428 to extend beyond the free edge of the arm remote from its supporting rock shaft 422 (Figs. 1, '18, 19 and 20). The projecting end430 of the tab guide 74 extends obliquely past the plane of the inner face of its supporting tucker-arm 428 (Fig. 19), so that when the tucker-arm is in its lower, vertical position, the end 430 of the guide 76 is disposed at such height .above the rotary table 250 that it is adapted to engage the side wall 30 of a carton C supported uponthe. table 250 immediately above the slit 50 therein. Since the lower end 430 of the guide extends beyond the plane of the inner face-ofthe tucker-arm, it is adapted to flex .the

-tongue 56 inwardly of the cartonside, and open the slit 50 for reception of the locking tab 48 as the cover 36 of the carton is closed. The tucker-arm428 is relatively wide and is adapted to engage-and offer lateral support to a substantial area of the side walls30 of the carton at each side of the slit 50 to prevent bulging of the side walls when the contents of the carton are compressed during closing of cover 36.

A front tucker-plate'436. (Figs. 3,- 4, 5, 14, 15, 16. and 17) is associated'with each carton closing and tab inserting station 274 and is rigidly mounted in position to be engaged. by the front wall 34 of a carton C in that station. Asvbest shown in Fig.17 each front tucker-plate 436 is adjustably mounted by screws 438 on a support bracket 440. (Figs. 5 and 15) depending from'and secured to the under surface of the associated overhead arm 292 by bolts 442. Each front tucker-plate 436 includes a back 444 having therein slots 446 (Fig. 17) through which the screws 438 extend to permit vertical adjustment of the tucker-plate. Adjacent each end of theback 444, front wall supporting tongues 448'extend downward and forward from the upper edge of the back 444; and one of the front tab guides 76'hereinbefore mentioned, is provided on each tucker-plate 436 in the form of a tongue 450 extending downward and. forward from the .upper edge of the back 444 intermediate the tongues 448. The lower portion of each of-the front wall. supporting tongues-448 issubstantiallyve'rtical, thereby-enabling it to' present a fiatsurface to the front wall 34 ofthd carton to prevent bulging of the front wall as the con tents of the carton are compressed during closing of the cover. The upper portion of tongue 450 of the front tab guiding tongue 76 extends substantially vertically downwardly throughout the major portion of its length but curves forward slightly adjacent its lowerend to present a tab guiding surface452 sloping downwardly and outwardly, i.e. radially outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary table 250. This downwardly and outwardly sloping surface 452 terminates in an outwardly projecting edge 454, and from the edge 454 the tab guide 76 is extended to form a downwardly and inwardly sloping portion 456. The edge 454 is disposed at such height above the table 250 that it is adapted to engage the front wall 34 of a carton resting upon the table 250, immediately above the slit 54, with the result that when a carton C is pressed radially inwardly on the table 250 with its front wall slit 54 in alignment with the tab guide 76, the edge 454 is adapted to engage the tongue 60 in the front wall 34 of the carton. The edge 454 projects beyond the plane of the front wall supporting tongues 448, and is, therefore, adapted to flex the tongue 60 ofthe carton inwardly and thus open the slit 54. The edge .454 then extends through the slit, and the tab guiding surface 452 is disposedv in'position to intercept the front tab 52'of a carton as the cover 36 is'closed, to guide the tab 52 intothe slit 54.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 the carton closing machine of the invention is provided with a guide rail 460 spaced outwardly from and extending around the periphery of the table 250 from the discharge end of the supply conveyor 66 through an angle of substantially 90. The end 460' of the rail 460 angles outwardly from its generally circular shape between where it is secured by a bolt 461 to an upward extension of a bracket 462, and the inner end of the vertical flange 94 of the guide- Way 96 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5). When the cartons engage the angularly disposed end 460 of the rail as they are moved by the conveyor 66 onto the rotary table 250 they are cammed inwardly, so that each carton fits snugly against a front. tucker-plate 436 with the front of the carton in engagement with the front tab guide 76. A supporting bearing 464 of the bracket 462 rotatably receives the shaft 108 at the discharge end of the conveyor .66. Additional support for the rail 460 is provided by a leg 466 which is bolted at its lower end to the stationary frame member and at its upper end to the .rail 46% by a bolt 470. The bolts 461 and 470 extend through, L-shaped slots in the bracket 462 ,and the. leg 466 respectively which permit both vertical and circumferential adjustment of the rail 460.

In order to insure that the cartons rest during the lid closing operation with their bottoms flat upon the table 250, a carton engaging and guiding bead 480, Figs. 5, 14, 15 and 16, is provided in the form of a rod welded to the upper edge of the inner surface of the rail 460. The head 488 is engaged by the corners of the carton adjacent the upper edge of the back wall withthe result that the head in conjunction with the downwardly and inwardly inclined portion 456 of the tab guide 76 of the front tucker-plate 436 operatesto press and hold the front portion of the carton down against the table 250. As may be seen from Figs. 14 and 15, the bead 480-is well above the level of the edge 454 of the guide tab 76 which engages the front wall of the carton at the lower edge of the slit 54. Owing to the inclined camming surface 456 of the tab adownward pressure is exerted upon the front wall of the carton when pressed inwardly against the tucker-plate 436 by the bead. Thereby "the body of the carton is maintained in a desirable squared condition for performance of the cover closing operation.

Four pusher studs 481 (Figs. 4 and 5) spaced apart at equal angular intervals extend upwardly from the table 250,- each stud being in such relation,toitmasseciated station 274 that the trailing side of a carton 6 bears against it while in the station. The studs, therefore, ensure accurate positioning of the cartons and serve to advance the cartons with the table 250 during the closing opeation, thereby ensuring the proper functioning of the head 48% in carnrning the cartons inwardly against the front tucker-plates 436.

As shown in Figure 5, the rotary table 250 and the conveyor 66 are so disposed with respect to each other that the conveyor deposits the cartons C on the table 250 with slightly more than the front half of each carton resting on the table and the remaining back portion of the carton extending outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the table. To support the overhanging back portions of the cartons as they are advanced by the rotating table 250, an arcuate rod 482 is mounted concentrically between the rail 460 and the peripheral edge of the table 256, with the upper surface of the rod in planar alignment with the upper surface of the table (Figs. 3, and 1446). The rod 482 is supported by a plurality of L-shaped brackets 484, welded at one end to the rail 460 and at the other end to the rod 482.

The discharge chute 78 hereinbefore referred to, is disposed with its receiving end 486 (Fig. 2) angularly spaced from the discharge end of the conveyor 66 by approximately 90 degrees about the axis of the pedestal iii, and extends from the rotary table 250 at right angles with respect to the direction of the conveyor 66. The discharge chute 78 comprises a bottom and two side walls. The side wall 45 2 last to be reached by a carton on the table 256 is extended over the table 250 into the path of cartons thereon as indicated at 494, so that it acts as a deflector to intercept cartons after they have been closed and released from the cover closing plate 72 and the side tucker-arms 428, to direct the cartons into the discharge chute 78.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the cam plate 152 and with it the cover closing plate 72 to thereby adapt the apparatus to handle cartons of different heights. The hub 502 of the cam plate 152 receives with a sliding fit the upper end of the pedestal 81, thus maintaining the plate 152 horizontal in spite of vertical adjustment. Two diametrically opposed holes 504 and 506 are provided in both the plate 152 and the upper end of the pedestal 81; one half of each hole is formed in the plate and the other half in the spindle. The half 504a of the hole 594 which is formed in the pedestal 81 is provided with threads 508 for the reception of a headless screw 516, while the other half Etlb of the hole 504 which is formed in the plate 152 is not threaded. The half hole 504b-isof sufiiciently large radius to provide clearance for the threads of the screw 516, and since the half hole 504!) is less deep than the companion half hole 504:: the bottom of the half hole 5tl4b is engaged by the bottom end. of the screw 510 when the same is screwed down the threads 5458. In this manner, the screw 510 exerts va downward thrust on the plate 152.

The half 506a of the hole 506 formed in the plate 152 is provided with threads 514 for the reception of a headless screw 516, while the other half 5t 6b of the hole Stlfihaving no threads is formed in the pedestal 81. The ralf hole 53611 is of sufficiently large radius to provide clearance for the threads of the screw 516, and is less deep than the hole 596a. The hole 506!) is moreshallow than the hole 506a and is engaged at its bottom by the -screw516 when the same is screwed down the threads 514, so that the screw 516 exerts a downward thrust on the pedestal 81 and a corresponding upward thrust, or lifting force, on the cam plate 152.

To adjust the carton closing machine to accommodate cartons having a greater vertical dimension, the screw 510 should first be backed off, to space the same from the bottom of the hole 5641) of the plate 152. The screw 516 should then be screwed down into the half mole-596a. Downward motion of the screw will .be resisted by the bottom of the hole 50Gb of the pedestal, with the result that the screw 516 will exert an upward thrust on the'plate 152through the threads 514. In this manner the cam plate 152is lifted, carrying plates 72, which are supported solely from the cam plate 152 through their respectively associated slide bars 293 and 360. The cover closing plates 72 will then operate in the same manner and through precisely the same distance as previously, but at a greater distance above the carton supporting table 256', to close the covers of deeper car.- tons.

Lowering the cam plate 152 may be accomplished by first backing off the screw 516 so that it no longer exerts an upward thrust against the threads 514 and is spaced above the'bottom of the hole 506b, and then screwing the screw 510 more deeply into the threaded half hole 504a. This causes the screw 510 to bear against the bottom of the hole 50412 to thus press the cam plate 152 to a lower position. The cover closing plates 72 are thus disposed at a lesser distance above the carton table 250 and, therefore, in a position adapting the machine to close the covers of shallower cartons.

Operation During practical operation of the carton closing machine of the invention, filled cartons C are supplied in a rapidly moving continuous procession to the conveyor 66, with the cover 36 of each carton in an open, substantially erect position. The conveyor 66 transports the cartons in closely spaced relation, and at sustained high speed, along the guideway .96 to and through the preliminary folding station P (Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 12) where the cover 36 of each carton makes engagement with the outer end 146 of the camming rod 136, as in dicated at 61 (Fig. 1). As the carton continues to advance, the cover 36 in contact with the rod 136 slides thercalong, and due to the forward, inward and downward inclination of the rod, the cover is folded almost to its horizontal, closed position C2 (Fig. 7). With the cover 36 so arranged, the carton moves to the position C3 (Figs. 1 and 8) wherein the substantially horizontally extending front flap .44 engages the flap deflector 68, which operates to fold the flap 44 downwardly about the upper edge of the front wall 34 as the carton advances to the position indicated at C4 (Figs. 1, 5 and 9). As the flap .44 is thus folded, the material of which the carton is made is prebroken, or creased, at the fold line 46 along which the flap 44 is hinged to the cover. 36 of the carton.

During engagement of the flap 44' with the deflector 68, the cover 36 is engaged by one of the friction plates 193 of the rotary head 70, which, due to its forward movement at a speed greater than that of the cover which it engages, exerts a frictional force against the cover 36 to neutralize the force imposed by the deflector 68 against the cover; The friction plate 198 .thus prevents the carton from being damaged by the force exerted horizontally against the flap 44 by the deflector tending to rotate the cover 36 in its own plane. Since the lowerend of-the inclined friction plate 198 is disposed at an elevation above the bottom flanges 9b and 20a of theguideway 6 substantially corresponding to the height of a carton, the friction plate 198 additionally operates to pre-break the material of the carton at the fold line 38' along which the cover 36 is hinged to the backwall 32 of the carton.

Atthe time that-the front flap 44 is thus folded down by the deflector 68, at leastthe-leading end of theflap has passedvthe point of attachment of the inclined cover raising strip 246 (Figs. 2-5) to the flange 94a of the guideway 96, with the result that the lower edge of the downwardly deflected ilap 44 extends over and below the lower portion of the-strip 246 (Fig. 5). Therefore, as thewcarton continues to move, the advancing cover en- ;jgages the upwardly inclined portion of the strip 246 mans and is raised thereby so that as the carton is deposited onto the table 250, the lower ends of the locking tabs 48 and 52 are higher than the slits 50 and 54 in the side and end walls, respectively, of the carton. However, the lower inner end 147 of the rod 136 prevents the cover 36 from rising to a position so high as to interfere with free passage of the carton under a raised cover closing plate 72 as the carton advances from the conveyor 66 onto the table 250.

As the carton advances from the position indicated at C4, the front flap 44 passes out of engagement with the flap deflector 68 and into a position (Fig. between the cover raising strip 246 and the flap retaining plate 240. The plate 240 prevents the fiap 44 from springing back to its original position of planar alignment with the cover 36, and, therefore, operates to guide the front flap 44 to a position (Fig. 14) wherein the lower end of the front locking tab 52 is interposed between the front wall 34 of the carton and one of the front tucker-plates 436 as the carton is moved onto the table 250 in the position indicated at C5 (Fig. l).

Due to the synchronized arrangement of the respective mechanisms for driving the conveyor 66 and the rotary table 250, as each carton C is delivered onto the table 250, one of the cover closing and tab insert stations 274 of the table 250 moves into position to receive the carton therein. Accordingly, each carton is moved by the conveyor 66 onto the table 250 in the position indicated at C5 (Fig. l) wherein the carton is disposed under the cover closing plate 72 of the station 274 and the front wall 34 of the carton faces the associated front tuckerplate 436, with the slit 54 in the front wall 34 in alignment with the tab guiding tongue 45!) of the tucker-plate 436. Such delivery of the carton C onto the table250 is effected without interrupting either the rotary motion of the table or the forward progress of the carton.

As the carton is thus advanced by the table 250, the corners of its back wall 32 slide along in engagement with the head 48%, the configuration of which is such that it cams the carton radially inward of thetable 250. This causes the front wall 34 of the carton to press firmly against the front wall supporting tongues 448 and causes the edge 454 of the tab guiding tongue 76 to press against the tongue 66 in the front wall 34 of the carton immediately above the slit 54, thus flexing the tongue 60 inwardly of the carton to open the slit 54. In this manner the carton is disposed in such position with relation to the front tucker-plate 436 that the camming surface 452 of the tongue 76 inclines downwardly through the slit 54 to the interior of the carton. A carton in this position is indicated at C6 in Figs. 14 and 18.

As the carton C moves into a station 274 of the table 250, the cam follower roller 316 carried by the associated outer slide bar 300 enters the downwardly inclined portion 334 (Figs. 1, 3 and 21) of the overhead camming groove 324, with the result that the outer edge of the cover closing plate 72 starts moving downwardly before the carton C has taken its final position in its station 274. However, the inclined portion 334 of the groove 324 is of such length that the slide bar 369 does not attain its lowest position until after the table .250 has turned far enoughto cause the carton C to be disposed squarely within the station 274 and the projecting edge 434 of the tongue 76 seated within the slit 54. Accordingly, when the outer edge of the cover closing plate 72 reaches its lowest position, the carton will be accurately aligned under the cover closing plate 72 with the front portion of the carton clamped firmly down against the table as the combined result of forces exerted on the carton by the bead 480 (Figs. 5, 14, 15 and 16) and the camming action of the sloping portion 456 of the tongue 456 against the lower edge of the slit 54 in the cartons front wall 34 (Fig. 15).

As will be observed by reference to Fig. 21, the cam follower roller 384 carried by the lower reciprocable rod 382 enters the upwardly inclined portion'402 (Fig'. 1) of the lower camming groove 388v a brief interval after the roller 316 has entered the low dwell portion 332 of the outer overhead camming groove 324. Accord ingly, shortly after the cover closing plate 72 has been disposed in the inclined position illustrated in Figs. 14 and 19, wherein the outer edge of the plate 72 is disposed adjacent the hinge line 38 of the cover 36, the slide rod 382 begins to rise, lifting the racks 416 and, through the pinion gears 420 and rock shafts 422, to turn the associated side tucker-arms 428 downwardly and inwardly toward the side walls 30 of the carton, i.e. from the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 18 to that of Fig. 19. As the side tucker-arms 428 swing down, they engage the fiaps 40 extending in the plane of the cover 36, and fold them downwardly and inwardly about their hinge lines 42, to the positions illustrated in Fig. 19, wherein the portions of the side flaps 40 at the rear of the carton are pressed inwardly against the side walls 313 of the carton.

The parts of each closing station 274 are so proportioned that when the roller 384 reaches the high portion 460 of the cam groove 388, the tucker-arms 428 will be disposed substantially vertically in supporting relation with the sidewalls 30 of the carton and with the lower end 430 of the tab guiding strip 78 of each arm 428 extending obliquely through the slit 50 of the associated side wall 30. When in this position, the lower end 430 of the guide strip 78 displaces the tongue 56, thus opening the slit 5d and assuming a position sloping downwardly through the slit to the interior of the carton as illustrated in Fig. 19.

Again referring to Fig. 21, a brief interval after the lower cam follower roller 384 starts moving upwardly along the inclined portion 402 of its groove 388-, the cam follower roller 314 carried by the inner slide bar 298 enters the downwardly inclined portion 348 of the inner overhead camming groove 320 with the result that just as the side tucker-arms 428 attain their fully lowered positions the cover closing plate 72 starts to swing down.- wardly, which then is disposed closely adjacent the hinge line 38 of the cover 36. The parts are so arranged that the side tucker-arms 428 reach their vertical positions (Fig. 19) before the cover closing plate 72 is swung downwardly far enough to move the cover to a position in which the lower ends of any of the locking tabs 48 or 52 drop to the elevation of the slits 58 or 54, respectively. However, a very brief interval before the side tucker-arms 428 reach their vertical positions (Fig. 19) the cam follower roller 314 enters the downwardly sloping portion 348, thus causing the cover closing plate '72 to swing downwardly. Downward motion of the plate 72 is completed when the roller 314 enters the low dwell portion 352 of the groove 320, thus pressing the cover 36 of the carton to its fully closed position.

'As clearly shown in Fig. 14, the two front wall supporting tongues 448, although almost vertical, are sufficiently inclined so that they engage the front wall 34 in an area spaced somewhat below theupper edge of the front wall. Consequently, although the'front wall supporting tongues 448 present relatively fiat surfaces to the front wall 34 to prevent bulging of the front wall as the contents of the carton are compressed by the closing cover, the upper edge of the front wall is spaced sutliciently far from the supporting tongues 448 to permit the lower edge of the flap 44 at the sides of the tongue 52, .to enter between the front wall 34 and the supporting tongues 448 (Fig. 14). Such entry is facilitated by the fact that the tongues 448 press the front wall 34 inwardly of the carton far enough to assure that the wall is erect, or possibly flexed inwardly slightly so that the upper edge of the front wall does not interfere with downward passage of the leading edge of the flap 44 past the upper edge of the front wall 34 as the flap moves downwardly.

ass ale.

As a consequence of the downward pivotal movement of the cover closing plate 72, the front locking tab 52 slides along the surface of the guide strip 76 through the successive positions illustrated in Figs. 14, 15 and 16, causing the tab 52 to enter and extend through the slit 54. Since the locking tab 52 and the adjacent area of the flap 44 are constrained between the front wall 34 of the carton and the guiding tongue 76 as the tab 52 is pushed into and through the slit 54, the tab 52 and flap 4-4 are held in a substantially flat condition, thereby preventing foreshortening the tongue and flap to an extent apt to interfere with projection of the tab far enough through the slit 54 to attain locking interengagement of the cover with the front wall 34. Likewise as a consequence of the closing movement of the cover 36, the side locking tabs 48 slide downwardly along the inner faces of the vertically disposed side tucker-arms 428. When the lower, leading ends of the tabs 48 pass the lower edges of the arms $28, they engage the inwardly sloping lower ends 430 of the guide strips 74, which deflect the tabs 48 inwardly and guide them into and through the slits St) to establish lockinginterengagement between the side flaps 40 of the top 36 with the side walls 39 of the carton.

Since closing the cover 36 is accomplished by a downwardly swinging plate 72 substantially co-extensive in area with the cover 36, the force applied to the cover to press the same to its closed position is distributed evenly over substantially the entire area of the cover. In this manner, the cover is maintained in a flat condition, even if the contents of the carton have been so carelessly placed into the body 26 of the carton that they are piled therein to a depth exceeding the height of the carton. By thus preventing buckling of the covers 36, the hingedly mounted cover closing plates 72 aid in retaining the rectilinear characteristics of the cartons to thereby facilitate perfect closing of the cartons. Furthermore, the cover closing plates 72, by applying their closing pressure to the cover 36 over a substantial area thereof, operate to press down any contents of a carton piled to an excessive depth in a localized area of the body 26 of the carton. The evenly applied pressure of the plate 72 causes the piled material to spread out into insufiiciently filled areas, and thus attains a more even distribution of the contents throughout the confines of the body 26.

While the contents of a carton are thus more evenly distributed by the pressure of the closing plate 72, the Walls 30, 32 and 34 of the carton are given lateral support to prevent outward bulging resulting from pressure imposed thereagainst by the compressed contents. The side walls 30 are laterally supported by the Side tucker-arms 428, which dwell in their vertical position (Fig. until completion of the operation of closing the cover 36; and the back wall '32 and the front wall 34 are given lateral support by the bead 480 and the tongues 448 of the front tucker-plate 426, respectively.

As indicated in Fig. 21, the lower dwell portion 352 of the inner overhead cam groove 320 is quite short. Consequently, almost immediately upon completion of the cover'closing'operation, the inner edge of the cover closing plate 72 starts to rise; and while doing so, the ioller'384 enters the downwardly inclined portion 404 of the lower cam groove 388. This starts the side tuckerai'ms 428 toward their upper, retracted positions. Only a brief interval thereafter, the follower roller 316 enters the upwardly inclined portion 336 of the outer overhead cam groove 324, thus initiating upward movement of the outer, hinged edge of the cover closing plate 72. In this manner the cover closing plate 72 and the side tucker-arms 428 are retracted from the completely closed carton C in ample time to release the same before the carton is carried into alignment with the discharge chute 78. Therefore, when the carton encounters the extension 494 (Fig. 2) of the discharge chutes'side wall 492, the carton is deflected thereby into the chute As this occurs, the foleach other,

ower ro er 314 n 3 en e e pp r dwell p rtions 346 and 330 of their respectively associated overhead cam grooves 320 and 324 and the follower roller 384 enters the lower dwell portion 398 of its associated cam groove 388. Therefore, while the rotary table 250 turns through the remaining portion of a complete revolution, the cover closing plate 72 and the side tucker-arms 428 are retained in their retracted, raised positions, in readiness to be lowered into operative engagement with another carton when received into the associated station 274.

The table 250 carries each carton through slightly more than degrees while closing its cover 36. Therefore, just before a closed carton is discharged onto the discharge chute 78, the next successive station 274 moves into receiving position with respect to the delivery conveyor 66, where another carton is delivered onto the table 259, after having been prepared for final closing while passing through the preliminary folding station P.

Thus it may be seen that although the hereinabove description of the operation of the carton closing machine of the invention deals with the progress of but a single carton through the apparatus, in practical operation the machine is adapted for use in a production line to close arapidly advancing, continuous procession of filled, open cartons. .The machine operates successfully at a high rate of speed, the contents of each carton are evenly distributed therein, and the cartons are blocked to uniform size and rectangular. form.

The cover closing machine of the present invention constitutes an improvement over that forming the subject matter of co-pending application, Serial No. 463,926, filed October 22, 1954, by Charles E. Kerr.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

"I he invention having been thus described, that which is believed to be new and for which protection by Letters Patent is desired is:

1. In a machine for closing a carton having a body portion and a cover hinged thereto, a table for supporting a carton to be closed, a cover closing plate spaced above the table by a distance admitting a box with an open cover between the table and the plate, means for lowering one edge of the plate to a position immediately adjacent the hinge line of the cover, and means for turning the plate downward about an axis immediately adjacent the hinge line to apply closing pressure to the cover throughout a substantial area of the same.

2. A machine for closing cartons having hinged covers, comprising a carton supporting table, a cover closing plate mounted above the table, means mounting the table and the plate for conjoint rotation about a vertical axis, means for depositing a carton with an open cover onto the table below the plate, means for lowering one edge of the plate to a position immediately adjacent the hinge line of the carton cover, and means for turning the plate downwardly about an axis immediately adjacent the hinge line of the cover to press the cover to carton closing position.

3. A machine for closing cartons having hinged covers, comprising a carton supporting table, a cover closing plate mounted above the table, means mounting the table and the'plate for conjoint rotation about a vertical axis, means for depositing a'carton with an open cover onto the table below the plate, two circular cam tracks arranged concentrically about said axis, a cam follower engaging each of said tracks, guides for said cam followers carried by the table for advancing the followers along the cam tracks as the table rotates about said axis, and means operably connecting the cam followers respectively to spaced apart portionsof the plate for moving said portions of the plate toward and away from the table independently of 17 4. A carton closing machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein one of the cam tracks is rotatably adjustable about the axis of rotation of the guides and table.

5. A carton closing machine as set forth in claim 3,

wherein the two cam tracks are individually rotatably adjustable about the axis of rotation of the guides and table.

6. A machine for closing a carton including a body having a slit wall, a cover hinged to the body and a locking tab extending from the cover, said machine comprising a carton supporting table rotatable about a vertical axis, a cover closing plate rotatable about said axis above the table, means for conjointly turning the table and plate, means for placing a carton to be closed onto the table below the plate, means for lowering one edge of the plate to a position adjacent the hinge line of the cover, means for turning the plate downwardly about an axis adjacent the hinge line of the cover to press the cover to closed position, and means for guiding the locking tab into the slit of the slit wall as the cover approaches closed position.

7. A machine for closing a carton including a body having a slit wall, a cover hinged along one edge to the body and a locking tab hinged to another edge'of the cover, said machine comprising a carton supporting table rotatable about a vertical axis, a cover closing plate above the table rotatable about said axis, means for conjointly turning the table and plate, means for placing a carton to be closed onto the table below the plate, means for pressing the slit wall downward to retain the slit thereof at predetermined height above the table, means for lowering one edge of the plate to a position adjacent the hinge line of the cover, means for turning the plate downward about an axis adjacent the hinge line of the cover to press the cover to closed position, and means for guiding the locking tab into the slit of the slit wall as the cover approaches closed position.

8. A machine for closing a carton including a body having a wall with a slit therein, a cover hinged along one edge to the body, and a locking tab extending from the opposite edge of the cover in alignment with the slit, said machine comprising a carton supporting table, a guide carried by the table and having a downwardly and outwardly inclined outer surface terminating in an outwardly projecting edge, said guide further having a downwardly and inwardly inclined camming surface located below the outwardly projecting edge, means for locating a carton on the table with the slit wall thereof facing inward and with the slit and the locking tab in alignment with the guide, means for efiecting relative movement of the carton and guide to enter the outwardly projecting edge'ofthe guide into the slit and to press the carton downwardagainst the table by engagement of the camming surface of the guide with the lower edge of the slit, and means for closing the cover and sliding the locking tab along the guide into the slit.

9. A machine for closing a carton including a body having front and back walls and a cover hinged to the back wall, said machine comprising a carton supporting table, a cover closing plate above the table, means mounting the table and plate for rotation about a vertical axis, means for conjointly turning the table and plate about said axis, means for placing a carton to be closed onto the table below the plate, means for lowering one edge of the plate to a position immediately adjacent the hinge line of the cover, means for turning the plate downwardly about an axis immediately adjacent the hinge line of the cover to press the cover to closed position, and means rigid with the table presenting to the front wall a substantially flat surface to resist bulging of the front wall as contents of the carton are compressed by the cover.

10. A machine for closing a carton including a body having walls and a hinged cover, comprising a table for supporting a carton to be closed, a cover closing plate movably mounted thereabove and sufficiently spaced therefrom to accommodate between the plate and the table a carton with its cover in an open position, means for lowering one edge of the plate to a position immediately adjacent the hinge line of the cover, means for turning the plate downward about an axis immediately adjacent the hinge line of the cover to press the cover to closed position, and means mounted in cooperative association with the table for presenting to walls of the cartons substantially fiat surfaces to resist bulging of the walls as contents of the carton are compressed by the cover.

11. A machine for closing a carton including a body having a slit wall, a cover hinged along one edge to the body, and a locking tab extending from the opposite edge of the cover in alignment with the slit in the slit wall, said machine comprising a carton supporting table, a guide carried by the table and having a downwardly and outwardly inclined outer surface terminating in an outwardly projecting edge and having a camming surface sloping downwardly and inwardly from said edge, means for locating a carton on the table with the slit wall thereof facing inwardly and the .slit in the slit wall in alignment with the guide, means for effecting relative movement of the carton and guide to enter the outwardly projecting edge of the guide into the slit and to press the carton downward against the table by engagement of the camming surface of the guide with the lower edge of the slit, and means for closing the cover and thereby sliding the locking tab along the guide into the slit.

12. A machine for closing a carton including a body having a slit wall, a cover hinged to the body, a flap hinged to the cover, and a locking tab extending from the flap, said machine comprising a'carton supporting table, means for moving a carton to be closed inwardly of said table to a predetermined position on the same, means for moving the cover to closed position, a guide having a downwardly and outwardly inclined outer surface terminating in an outwardly projecting edge adapted to enter the slit in the slit wall and thereby open the slit as the carton moves inwardly of the table, said downwardly and outwardly inclined surface of the guide being in position to intercept the leading edge of the locking tab as the cover approaches closed position and to guide the tab into the slit, and means for pressing the upper edge of the slit wall of the carton inwardly of the carton to clear the leading edge of the flap as the cover approaches closed position.

13. A machine for closing a carton including a body and a cover hinged thereto, said machine comprising a table mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, means providing an abutment rigid with the table, means for depositing a carton to be closed onto the table adjacent the abutment, means operative as the table rotates for pressing the carton against the abutment to arrange the carton in a predetermined carton closing station on the table, an arm mounted above the table for rotation with l the same, means for conjointly rotating the table and arm, two rods mounted in said arm for vertical reciprocation toward and away from spaced apart portions of said station, a cover closing plate pivotally connected adjacent one edge to the lower end of one of the rods, a link pivoted to the lower end of the other of the rods and to the plate adjacent the opposite edge thereof, a cam plate mounted in fixed position above the arm and means on the cam plate defining a cam track individual to each of said rods, and a cam follower on each of said rods in operative engagement with the associated cam track.

14. A machine for closing a carton including front and back walls, a cover hinged to the back wall, and a flap hinged to the cover, said machine comprising means for folding the cover to closed position, means for folding the flap around the upper edge of the front wall to a position adjacent and substantially parallel to the front -w all, said flap folding means im'posing on the flap a torque urging the cover to rotate in its own plane and thereby tending to distort the ,back wall ofv the cartoil, and means for imposing a counter torque on the flap opposing said torque and thereby resisting distortion of the back wall.

15. A machine for closing a carton including front and back walls, a cover hinged to the back wall, and a flap hinged to the cover, said machine comprising means for advancing a carton endwise with the cover in substantially closed position and the flap extending over and beyond the upper edge of the front wall, a deflector mounted in the'path of the'fiap and presenting to the same a downwardly facing surface sloping downwardly in the direction of advance of the flap to fold the flap down around the upper edge of the front wall, and means frictionally engagingthe cover andm'oving fasterthanandin the same directiona'sthe carton to counter act the force exerted by the deflector and tending to rotate the'cover inits own plane. a

16. A machine for'closing a carton including front and back walls, a cover hinged to the back wall, and'a' flap hinged to the cover, saidmachine comprising means for advancing a carton endwise with the cover in substantially closed position and the flap extending over V carton and about an axis adjacent said path, means for a rotating the arm causing the arm to sweep over the carton in the direction of carton advance and at a faster speed, and a friction plate secured to the under surface of the arm in position to frictionally' engage the cover of the carton to at least partially. counteract the force exerted by the defiectonand tendingto rotatethe cover in its own-plane.-

-17. A machine-for closing a carton including' front and back walls, a cover hinged-to the back wall, and a flap hinged to the cover, said machine comprising means for advancing a carton endwise with the cover in substantially'closed position and the flap extending over and beyond the upper edge of the front wall, a deflector mounted in the path of the flap and presenting to the same a-downwardly facing surface sloping downwardly in-the-direction' ofadvance of-the -flap to'foldthe flap. downaround' the upper edge of the frfont wall anlarmmounted for rotation in a planeabove thep'ath-of-the carton and about an axis-adjacent said-- P'ath-in opposed relation to the deflector, means fotgrot-ating. thearminthe direction causing thearmto sweepi-over; the carton in the direction of carton advance and at a faster "speed-,1 anda friction plate carried by the arm and sloping-upwai-d and forward in the direction of movement-thereof, saidfriction plate being disposed'to frictionally'en gage managers" the cover of the carton as the cartonfmoves thc'r'epast to exert-a force on the cover in the direction of carton advance;

1 18; A machine for closing a carton including a body, a cover hinged to the back of the body; and a flap hinged to the cover, said machine comprising conveyor means" for advancing a carton endwise with'the cover in substantially closed position and the flap extending, substan-' tially horizontally past the front of the carton, and flap deflector including a disc mounted for free rotation to the leading end of the advancing flap a downwardly facing surface to deflect the flap downwardly to a position adjacentthe'front 'of the carton.

19. A machine for closing cartons, each hav'ing'a body including a slit wall, a cover hinged to the body and a locking tab carried by the cover in position to enter the slit of the slit wall when the coveris closed, said machine comprising a rotary table adapted to receive cartons tobe closed, means for turning the table, a tab guide connected to the table for movement therewith,

1 a conveyor arranged to deliver cartons successively onto the table with the slit in the slit wall in alignment with the tab guide, means arranged adjacent the conveyor for temporarily folding substantially to closed position the-cover'of a carton approaching the table, means for folding the locking tab of-a folded cover to a position substantially parallel to the slit wall and overlying the slit, means operative upon termination of operation of said cover folding means for raising the cover until the tabis clear of-the slit, means for retaining the tab ad jacent the plane of the front of the carton during such raising of the cover, and means mounted for movement with-the table'for returning to closed position the cover ofa-ca'rton on the table, said tab being. guided into the I slit as the cover is returned to closed position.

20. In a machine for closing cartons, a carton support, a closing plate movably mounted above the su port, separate vertically reciprocable means connected to opposite edges of said plate for independently moving Lawrence Jan. 11,1921 1,991,223- Ledigget al Feb. 12, 1935 2,598,135 Schmied May 27,1952 2,625,778 Wood-e Jan. 20, 1953 Boyce Nov. 24, 1953 

